262 Manual of the Game Birds of India, 



food, but they sometimes do so in play, 

 and frequently if wounded in the wing, 

 or if pursued by a Hawk. The Mallard, 

 in spite of the wonderful intelligence 

 which it shows in its habits, and in spite 

 of the excellence of its flesh when brought 

 to table, is a great glutton. It may 

 almost be said of this bird that it is 

 omnivorous and never satisfied. No 

 kind of animal life which is to be found 

 in the water comes amiss to it, and few 

 water-plants are safe from its voracity. 

 On the banks it eats the juicy ends of 

 grass and the buds of other weeds. In 

 early morning, or during the day, after a 

 shower, it repairs to the pastures to feed 

 on the worms and slugs, or strays into the 

 orchards to pick up fallen fruit. In 

 autumn it enters the forest to devour the 

 acorns under the oaks, or wanders over 

 the stubble-fields to pick up the scattered 

 grain. So eager is it to satisfy its appetite, 

 that it can scarcely find an opportunity 

 to roost during the day ; and at night 

 most of its time is occupied in sifting the 

 mud on the banks of lakes and streams 

 or on the sea-shore. To carry on this 

 process scarcely any light is required ; it 

 may be heard feeding on very dark nights ; 

 the selection of the food which remains 



